Tug-securing device



(No Model.)

A. BENNETT.

TUG SECURING DEVICE.

' Patented Apr. 26, 1892.

q qkbwzooe @002, a 4) M UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

ALBERT BENNETT, OF QUINCY, MICHIGAN.

TUG-SECURING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,815, dated April 26, 1892. Application filed October 15, 1891. Serial No. 408,778. (No model.)

To all whom it 11mg concern.-

Beit known that I, ALBERT BENNETLa citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tug-Securing Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements in that class of tug-securing devices designed to hold the free ends of the tugs or traces and prevent the same from dragging upon the ground ;-and it consists of a device connected to a harness and comprising swinging catches adapted to be engaged by the eyes at the ends of the tugs or traces and a keeper-plate adapted to prevent a casual disconnection of the tugs or traces from the catches.

The novelty of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of myimproved device in operation. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the device; and Fig. 3 is a vertical diametrical section of the same, taken through the catches.

In the said drawings similar letters and figures designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, referring to which A indicates the main frame of my improved device, which is preferably of a general circular form, and preferably comprises the circle 3 and the diametrical bars 4, as better illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Preferably formed integral with the circle 3 of the main frame, and preferably at diametricallyopposite points, are loops 7 and 9, which are designed for the connection of the back strap 1 and the extended strap 2, respectively. 6 and Salsoindicate loops, which are preferably formed integral with the circle of the frame A and are designed for the connection of the various harness straps; but I do not desire to confine myself to the use of loops in connecting my device to a harness, as it may be connected thereto in any suitable manner.

Rising from the center of the frame A at the intersection of the diametrical bars 4 is a pivot-post M, to which are pivotally connected the swinging catches 12, which are provided at their outer ends with the upwardly and inwardly curved hook branches 14, which are designed and adapted to engage the eyes 14 on the ends of the tugs or traces to sup port the said tugs or traces for the purpose stated.

Preferably formed integral with the circle 3 of the frame A and extending over the pivot post M isa segmental concavo-convex keeperplate 0, which is provided at opposite points upon its side edges with shoulders 17, which serve to limit the forward movement of the catches 12, and is tapered slightly toward its free end, where it is curved inwardly, as better illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In operation the swinging catches 12 are swung rearwardly away from the keeper-plate O, and the eyes of the tugs or traces are hooked over the hook branches 14 of the catches. The said catches are then swung forwardly until they extend in diametricallyopposite directions, as illustrated in Fig. 1, when the free ends of their hook branches will rest so close to the edges of the keeperplate 0 that a casual disconnection of the tugs or traces from the catches will be prevented.

Although I have specifically described the construction and relative arrangement of the several elements of my improved device, yet I do not desire to be confined to the same, as such changes or modifications may be made as fairly fall within the scope of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

1. In a tug-securing device, substantially as described, the combination, with the main frame, the pivot-post rising from the center thereof, and the keeper-plate connected to the main frame, of the swinging catches pivotally connected to the pivot-post and having the hook branches at their free ends for engaging the eyes of the tugs or traces, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a tug-securing device, substantially as described, the combination, with the main frame having brace-bars, the pivot-post rising from said frame, and the segmental concavoconvex keeper-plate formed integral with the circle of the main frame and tapered toward its free end and having said end curved inwardly, of the swinging catches pivotally connected to the pivot-post and having the upwardly and inwardly curved hook branches at their free ends for engaging the eyes of the tugs or traces, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses ALBERT BENNETT.

Witnesses:

I M. M. BROWN,

N. W. BENNETT. 

